Office of Future Plans, featuring J Robbins of Jawbox and Government Issue, are set to make their NYC debut opening for Obits at Glasslands on October 29. Tickets are still on sale.

Other members of Office of Future Plans include Darren Zentek (Kerosene 454, Channels), Brooks Harlan (Avec, War on Woman), and Gordon Withers (known for his cello covers of Jawbox songs). Their debut album comes out this November via Dischord Records. Check out the tracklist below.

That tracklist, all dates, a recent live video, and a stream of the "Harden Your Heart" 7" below...

Continue reading "J Robbins' band Office of Future Plans schedule NYC live debut, releasing LP on Dischord"

Blake Schwarzenbach of Jawbreaker's new band Forgetters play Cake Shop tonight (9/10). It's one of their many upcoming shows, and while that's already a good enough reason to head to the Manhattan venue, there's also another: BELLS≥ play as direct support in what will be their first show ever.

So who the hell is BELLS≥? Zac Barocas of Jawbox sits in behind the kit, with Adam Rizer (Oxford Collapse) on bass, and Chris Ernst/Steve Shodin on guitars. The instrumental band has a new LP due in October entitled There are Crashers (not sure what label, but that's it pictured above).

One member of Jawbreaker. One member of Jawbox. Together again (for one night at least).

It's one of two shows that BELLS≥, no relation to BEAK>, will play this weekend. The second is Saturday in Maryland, and features yet another new Jaw-member band on the bill...

"If you're not familiar with them yet, OFFICE OF FUTURE PLANS is the new band from J ROBBINS (of such legendary bands as Government Issue, Jawbox and Burning Airlines). OOFP has been playing around the Baltimore/D.C. area for the past year or so, and has recently been in the studio working on their debut record. This will be the band's second-to-last show of 2010 so that J can focus on the upcoming Government Issue reunion and the band can finish recording. Don't miss this chance to see them!"

That chance to see them, and BELLS≥, takes place at Windup Space in Baltimore

Videos and more info below...

Continue reading "BELLS≥ & Office of Future Plans are new bands w/ Jawbox members (that are both playing shows this weekend) "

by BBG

Government Issue was an American hardcore punk band from Washington, D.C. active from 1980 to 1989. The band experienced many changes in membership during its nine-year existence, with singer John Stabb as the only consistent member in an ever-fluctuating lineup that at various times included notable musicians Brian Baker, Mike Fellows, Steve Hansgen, J. Robbins, and Peter Moffett. Government Issue originated from the Washington, D.C. hardcore scene but added elements of heavy metal, New Wave, and psychedelic rock on later records. Though this has caused the band to be sometimes overlooked in relation to other Washington, D.C. hardcore acts, their stylistic diversity made them influential to later punk rock groups. -[Wiki]

Government Issue will reunite for a single show in DC at The Black Cat on December 11th with The Goons and Set To Explode, their first show in 21 years. The band, which will feature John Stabb, J. Robbins, Tom Lyle, and Pete Moffett, will play the venue as part of a benefit for DJ Stereo Faith (aka Steven McPherson of the defunct DC band Brace), a local DJ who is recovering from removal of a tumor from his auditory canal. Tickets are on sale. If you can't make it to the show, you can paypal donations for Steven McPherson to keepingthestereofaith (AT) gmail DOT com.

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: Rooftop Vigilantes - Seth No Jump (MP3)

Rooftop Vigilantes @ Cake Shop - Feb 2009

It's been a year since Rooftop Vigilantes last played New York. In the interim, the Lawrence, KS four-piece have wrapped up their second album, Real Pony Glue, and you can download the first released track from that, "Seth No Jump," at the top of this post. These guys are up there with BOAT in in the shambly, anthemic, super-catchy school of indie rock -- and if this sounds a little tighter, more pointed than anything on their debut, there's a reason. The band trekked to Baltimore, MD to record the album with Jawbox/Burning Airlines' J. Robbins behind the boards, which seems like a perfect match with Rooftop Vigilantes' sound which has been described in the past as "a very drunk Fugazi." Says guitarist Zach Campbell:

"I've never really recorded in a situation like that -- it's usually either at my house or at a friends studio on the cheap, etc. We got the chance to go and do it for real, it was rad. It also came with its hangups. We didn't really know anyone in Baltimore, and we all ran out of money so we ended up having to sleep on couches in J's studio, and not shower the whole time after the first night. He was very nice about it, but I'm sure he thought we were all very smelly people."

It's still undetermined who's going to put out the new record, and when it's coming out, but Rooftop Vigilantes will be back in NYC next month for a few shows: Shea Stadium on 3/24 and Cake Shop on March 26 with another show on 3/27 TBD. The band are still putting together an extensive U.S. tour but all March tour dates so far are below (plus some video from Cake Shop last year)...

Continue reading "new Rooftop Vigilantes MP3 & tour dates"

by BBG

"In the course of talking about the reissue I brought up the idea of playing some shows because I was like well look, if we were ever going to do this, if we were ever going to play again, you know, now would be the time to do it." - J Robbins

Jawbox was one of a few who defined the sound of the 90's underground. After releasing records on respected uber-indie Dischord, the band dropped their masterpiece For Your Own Special Sweetheart as their major label debut for Atlantic. Razor sharp post-hardcore riffage collided with tense emotional songwriting to create one of the greatest, yet most unsung LPs of the era. The band followed up Sweetheart with a self-titled LP before calling it quits in 1997.

Recently Jawbox celebrated reissued Sweetheart and celebrated with a performance on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. We cornered vocalist/guitarist J Robbins before that performance to talk about the band, their future, his production work, and the Baltimore/DC music scene...

Continue reading "an interview with J. Robbins of Jawbox"

by Black Bubblegum

Pioneering Washington, D.C.-based rock band Jawbox will make its first appearance of any kind in 12 years when it performs Dec. 8 on NBC's "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon."

For now, there are no concrete plans for additional shows from Jawbox, who along with Fugazi and Shudder To Think was the third pillar of the hugely influential DC hardcore scene in the early 1990s....

As a precursor to the "Late Night" performance, Jawbox will on Nov. 23 reissue its 1994 major-label debut, "For Your Own Special Sweetheart," on Coletta and Barbot's own Desoto Records label, complete with the three bonus tracks from the "Savory +3" EP: "68,""L'il Shaver" and a cover of the Big Boys' "Sound on Sound." [Billboard]

Jawbox was literally one of my favorite bands of the era, both live (Jawbox/Jawbreaker tour was particularly amazing) and on record (For Your Own Special Sweetheart is a certified classic) . It's kind of odd to think of Jawbox reuniting for Jimmy Fallon (WTF), but if it leads to a show or two, I am definitely down.

J Robbins went on to join Burning Airlines, Channels and be a producer for various bands including Clutch, Modern Life Is War, Jets to Brazil, Against Me!, The Promise Ring, and many others. Robbins's son Callum was born with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, and has been the subject of many benefit shows that have included reunions of Snapcase, The Dismemberment Plan, and others.

Continue reading "Jawbox reuniting... for Jimmy Fallon TV appearance"